Sorry, but this (the Rocky fanfare) is utter drivel. It bears little authentic relation to the original by Bill Conti from the movie, and as a ‘fantasia’ or original improvisation on the material it is very limited and frankly dull. The use of the percussion is redundant, adding nothing.

Bruce Chidester

March 08, 2013 at 4:56 pm

….and a good morning to you Phil,

I am very sorry you did not like my fanfare and due to the fact that you have spent so much time analyzing it, I thought it appropriate to address your listed issues.

1. this (the Rocky fanfare) is utter drivel

Definition of the word DRIVEL-
a. to let saliva dribble from the mouth : SLAVER
b. to talk stupidly and carelessly

I would discount the possibility of the first use of the word so I must assume you are referring to the second.
I will transfer the meaning from spoken work to the musical content of the piece itself in this case I feel that this number is neither stupid nor carelessly done.

2. It bears little authentic relation to the original by Bill Conti from the movie

The most recognized motive from the movie is the never to be forgotten opening repetition of the ascending first figure based on the overtone series of a bugle which is how I begin my fanfare and its following inversion of the same. I’m sorry you didn’t recognize it.

3. and as a ‘fantasia’ or original improvisation on the material it is very limited and frankly dull.

Other than the last description, I feel that my use of the word Fantasy was well chosen for it can be described as any of the other 4 examples.

I am sorry that you feel this way about the fanfare. You must be much more observant than the thousands that have downloaded it and I would have to estimate the dozens who have rehearsed it and possibly performed it and are not privileged to your keen ear and good taste in music.

4. The use of the percussion is redundant, adding nothing.

re•dun•dant
[ri-duhn-duh nt] Show IPA
adjective
characterized by verbosity or unnecessary repetition in expressing ideas; prolix: a redundant style
being in excess; exceeding what is usual or natural: a redundant part.
having some unusual or extra part or feature.
characterized by superabundance or superfluity: lush, redundant vegetation.

I cannot understand what you mean by “the percussion is (Oops… I think you meant to say “are”) redundant”. Exactly what are the percussion parts redundant to? Are they redundant to themselves or the trumpet parts? I’m not sure what you mean so please feel free to enlighten me. As far as being an addition to the arrangement, I feel that the percussion adds quite a bit, but of course that’s only my opinion and a few hundred other listeners, including percussion majors from two universities.

In closing I would like to express my sadden feelings to the fact that I have disappointed your very high standards of musical composition and for that reason I would like to refund your money for this obviously over rated and overpriced arrangement.

For that reason I will be sending your money back……but wait!

I noticed that this poorly written drivel has been offered to my readers absolutely FREE.

Thank you for your opinions and I will take them into consideration the next time I write something for you and you alone. In the mean time I will continue to write for the 1,199 other readers who visited my site this week.

Have a nice day and come back soon.

Oh! One more thing. I’m sure that our readers would like to see and hear your conception of the same fanfare so please send me a midi version of your creation and I will gladly post it and let our readers see how it should have been written.

the57bermudan@hotmail.com

March 03, 2014 at 5:59 pm

Bruce, I haven’t seen or heard your piece, but felt compelled to comment on your response to “Phil”; BRAVO! If your compositions are half as clever as your verbiage, then you are most accomplished indeed. I am a Horn pla
yer and semologist, btw. Brian G. Sullivan